critical

critical — 形容詞

1. pointing out flaws in someone or something; expressing the view that a person, a

1.形容詞B1
釋義

批評；挑剔

表達負面意見，認為某人或某事不好

pointing out flaws in someone or something; expressing the view that a person, action, or thing has serious faults.

例句

The article was highly critical of the government's new education policy.

那篇文章對政府的新教育政策提出了嚴厲批評。

critical of + noun: expressing disapproval of something

Dylan's mother was critical of his messy room and told him to clean it up.

Dylan 的媽媽批評他的房間髒亂，叫他整理乾淨。

同義詞
  • disapproving

    softer, focuses on having a negative opinion rather than actively stating it

  • judgmental

    stronger, implies a habit of forming quick negative opinions

  • harsh

    describes the tone or severity, not the act of criticizing itself

反義詞

文法句型

critical + of + noun/pronoun

用法筆記

The person or thing receiving the criticism follows the preposition 'of', not 'about' or 'toward'.

常見錯誤

❌She was critical about his work.
✅She was critical of his work.
💡'critical' takes 'of', not 'about'.

2. relating to the work of a critic; involving careful analysis and judgment of the

2.形容詞B2
釋義

評論；評析

針對書籍、電影等藝術作品的分析與評價

relating to the work of a critic; involving careful analysis and judgment of the quality of books, films, plays, music, or other works of art.

例句

The novel received widespread critical acclaim after its publication.

這部小說出版後獲得了評論界的廣泛好評。

critical acclaim: widespread praise from reviewers

Élise is writing a critical essay on the director's early films.

Élise 正在寫一篇關於該導演早期電影的評論文章。

同義詞
  • evaluative

    more formal; focuses on the act of assessing quality

  • analytical

    focuses on breaking down and examining rather than passing judgment

文法句型

critical + noun (review, essay, analysis, acclaim)

用法筆記

In this sense, 'critical' is neutral — it refers to analysis and evaluation, not necessarily negative judgment. A 'critical success' is a work praised by reviewers.

常見錯誤

❌The film was critical successful.
✅The film was a critical success.
💡'critical' is an adjective, so it modifies a noun, not an adverb.

3. extremely important because what happens next depends on it; absolutely needed f

3.形容詞B2
釋義

關鍵；重要

極其重要，因為後續發展取決於此

extremely important because what happens next depends on it; absolutely needed for a particular result to be achieved.

例句

It is critical that the medicine be kept at the right temperature.

將藥物保存在適當的溫度是至關重要的。

it is critical + that-clause (subjunctive)

Good communication is critical to the success of any team project.

良好的溝通對於任何團隊專案的成功至關重要。

critical to + noun: essential for achieving something

同義詞
  • crucial

    nearly identical in meaning and formality; the most direct synonym

  • vital

    emphasizes that something is needed for life or continued existence

  • essential

    focuses on something being absolutely necessary rather than time-dependent

反義詞

文法句型

critical + to + noun

critical + for + noun

it is critical + that-clause

critical + infinitive

用法筆記

This sense is often used with 'that'-clauses in formal contexts. Note the subjunctive verb form: 'It is critical that he arrive (not arrives) on time.' In less formal speech, the subjunctive is sometimes dropped.

常見錯誤

❌It is critical that he arrives before noon.
✅It is critical that he arrive before noon.
💡After 'critical that', use the base form of the verb (subjunctive).

4. describing raw materials and minerals that a country must have for its industrie

4.形容詞C1
釋義

稀缺；戰略

經濟或產業所需但供應不足的（物資）

describing raw materials and minerals that a country must have for its industries and economy, yet are hard to get because supply is limited.

例句

Lithium is considered a critical mineral for battery production.

鋰被視為電池生產的關鍵礦物。

critical mineral / critical raw material

The government created a list of critical materials that the country cannot afford to lose.

政府制定了一份該國不可或缺的關鍵材料清單。

同義詞
  • essential

    broader; does not imply scarcity, only necessity

文法句型

critical + noun (minerals, materials, resources, supplies)

用法筆記

This sense is limited to discussions of natural resources, industrial supply chains, and economic planning. It is rarely used in everyday conversation.

5. so serious or dangerous that death becomes a real possibility; used for illnesse

5.形容詞B2
釋義

危急；危重

（疾病或傷勢）極其嚴重，有死亡風險

so serious or dangerous that death becomes a real possibility; used for illnesses, injuries, or medical conditions.

例句

The driver was rushed to the hospital in critical condition after the crash.

那名司機在車禍後被緊急送醫，情況危急。

in critical condition: set phrase for medical status

Her lung infection became critical and required immediate surgery.

她的肺部感染變得危險，需要立刻動手術。

同義詞
  • life-threatening

    clearly indicates risk of death; more formal

  • grave

    very formal and serious; used in medical and news contexts

反義詞
  • stable

    condition not worsening; opposite of dangerously unstable

文法句型

critical + noun (condition, illness, injury, stage)

用法筆記

Hospitals and news reports use 'critical condition' as a standard classification. It is more severe than 'serious' and less severe than 'critical and unstable' in some systems. See also sense 6 for describing a person.

常見錯誤

❌He was critical after the accident.
✅He was in critical condition after the accident.
💡The condition is critical, not the person directly (though sense 6 is an exception).

6. so badly hurt or extremely sick that dying is a strong possibility; used when de

6.形容詞B2
釋義

病危；命危

（傷者或病人）情況極度嚴重，隨時可能死亡

so badly hurt or extremely sick that dying is a strong possibility; used when describing a person's medical state.

例句

After the surgery, the patient was critical but stable.

手術後，這名病人情況危急但穩定。

critical but stable: common medical phrase

The young man was listed as critical by the hospital staff.

醫院工作人員將那名年輕男子列為病危。

同義詞
  • critically ill

    slightly more formal; 'critically injured' is used for physical trauma

反義詞

文法句型

be + critical (describing a person)

用法筆記

This sense describes the person directly ('The patient is critical'), unlike sense 5 which describes the illness or injury. In everyday speech the two overlap, but medical staff distinguish between 'a critical patient' (sense 6) and 'a critical condition' (sense 5).

常見錯誤

❌My grandmother is in a critical.
✅My grandmother is critical.' or 'My grandmother is in critical condition.
💡'critical' is an adjective, not a noun.

7. involving careful, fact-based assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of some

7.形容詞B2
釋義

分析；評估

基於事實仔細評估優缺點

involving careful, fact-based assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of someone or something.

例句

Schools should teach students critical thinking skills from an early age.

學校應該從小教導學生批判性思考的能力。

critical thinking: set phrase for analytical reasoning

Vikram's critical analysis of the data revealed several mistakes in the original report.

Vikram 對數據所做的批判性分析，揭露了原始報告中的好幾處錯誤。

同義詞
  • analytical

    focuses on breaking information into parts to understand it

  • evaluative

    focuses on forming a judgment about quality or value

  • objective

    emphasizes fairness and lack of bias

反義詞
  • uncritical

    accepting things without questioning or examining them

  • subjective

    based on personal feelings rather than facts

文法句型

critical + noun (thinking, analysis, examination, evaluation)

用法筆記

This sense is neutral and positive — being 'critical' here means thinking carefully and objectively, not finding fault. 'Critical thinking' is a core educational goal that involves logic, questioning assumptions, and evaluating evidence.

常見錯誤

❌Critical thinking means finding problems in everything.
✅Critical thinking means carefully evaluating information before forming an opinion.
💡In this sense, 'critical' is about careful analysis, not negativity.